Stocking Stuffers & Small Gifts for Toddlers

First, let me say that I am far too into Christmas stockings for a Jewish person. I know. Please don’t tell my mother. But when I married someone who was Catholic, one of the big secret upsides was a license to engage in all the Christmas traditions I had never experienced as a child — buying and decorating a tree, baking cookies for Santa, having that moment of pure joy and amazement when the kids get to the bottom of the stairs on Christmas morning to find gifts and toys galore. But of all of these, for whatever reason, filling the stockings is one of my favorites. I think I enjoy the challenge of finding things that are practical, fun, not too expensive, and just the right size to fill the stocking. My husband always gets some small tools, razor blades and Williams-Sonoma fleur de sel (a bit of a splurge, but we use it all year and it fits nicely in the heal or the toe). My daughter is almost six — and the only challenge for her is not over-spending, because she’s super easy to please with any small toys, stickers, candy, etc. Since her teacher suggested dice games to practice math skills, this game will be the splurge in her stocking this year. But what about my nearly 2-year-old son? The toddler is a tricky one because he’s still too young for some of the small toys, quantity is not always a good things for him, candy is kept to the bare minimum, but he shouldn’t be left out.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Toddlers

So here’s what I’ve come up with for a list of stocking stuffers for toddlers:

Clothes:SOCKS! You can never have enough toddler socks. I also saved a few t-shirts I got for him at Target and will roll them up to stuff in his stocking. We’re already over-stocked with hats and mittens, but of course they’re a good option if you’re in need of spares for the season.

Toiletries:Boogie Wipes. If you have a toddler and have never heard of these, run, don’t walk, to get some. Also, toothbrush and toddler toothpaste. My guy LOVES to brush his teeth. Go figure.

Toys, Games, etc: Big fat crayons, Play-Doh, toy cars. Bath toys make the perfect stocking stuffer for most toddlers, except mine, who is banned from the bath for reasons that merit their own post (don’t worry, he takes showers instead).